Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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380. To ask the Minister for Health if he will review the low rate of salary being paid to newly qualified nurses; if he is aware that a newly qualified nurse may be paid a lower rate than the care assistants they are working alongside; his views on whether this is fair (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43024/14]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Haddington Road Agreement, nurses and midwives participating in the Graduate Nurse Programme are paid 85% of the first point of the Staff Nurse/Midwifery Scale in the first year, €23,129, and 90% in the second year, €24,490. Slightly higher scales apply for Mental Health Nurses, €23,667 in the first year and €25,059 in the second year, maintaining previous relativities. In addition, participating nurses would also be in receipt of allowances and other premium payments. It is noted that the Agreement specifies that any subsequent appointment following completion of the Graduate Nurse Programme will be to the third point of the staff nurse salary scales and that, under the Agreement, the January 2011 new entrant salary scales have now been assimilated with the scales applicable to those who were in the Public Service prior to January 2011.

Some newly qualified nurses take up temporary contracts following completion of their 4th year undergraduate clinical placement covering the period until the following year's intake commence their 36 week placements. On doing so they would be awaiting registration and would not be in a position to undertake the full range of nursing duties. The pay rate for these nurses is also set at 85% of the first point of the Staff Nurse/Midwifery Scale.

While these rates are less than the first point of the permanent Health Care Assistant Scale, €25,578, Health Care Assistants participating in the Intern Scheme are also paid 85% of the first point in the first year, giving a salary of €21,741, and 90% of the first point in the second year, giving a salary of €23,020.

There are no plans to review these rates of pay at present.